Notching of signatures for glued books



June 1, 1954 CAHEN NOTCHING 0F SiGNATURES FOR GLUED BUCKS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1949 IN VEN TOR. 441 050 Oil/aw 14 77'OIF XS June 1, 1954 A. CAHEN 2,679,901 NOTCHING OF SIGNATURES FOR GLUED BOOKS, Filed April 15, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 INVENTOR.

4A F8550 Cure/v Arrawvsys June 1, 1954- A. CAHEN 2,679,901

' N'OTCHING 0F SIGNATURES FOR GLUED BOOKS Filed Aprill5, 1949 '6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. A4FQ0 CAHEN 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ,44 Fwsa CAI/5N Arr-mavens June 1, 1954 A. CAHEN NOTCHING OF SIGNATURES FOR GLUED BOOKS Filed April 15, 1949 5 w, y by a? June 1, 1954 A. CAHEN 2,679,901

NOTCHING OF SIGNATURES FOR GLUED BOOKS Filed April 15, 1949 6 Shee'ts-Sheet 5 v Wu fie. 73

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INVENTOR ,44 FIP0 614/15 BY Arm/vans 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April l5, l949 5 m ///////I//, F M

Affagxvgys Patented June 1 1 954- OFFICE NOTCHING OF SIGNATURES FOR GLUED BOOKS Alfred Cahen, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application April 15, 1949, SerialNo. 87,759

26 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of glued books and includes improvements concerning notched signatures.

Th present application is related to my copending applications Serial No. 787,322, filed November 21, 1947, and Serial No. 42,102, filed August 2, 1948, to which reference may be had for a fuller understanding of the present invention.

As explained in the above-noted applications, the present-day higher grade books have their signatures sewed together, while others have their signatures glued together for the purpose of economy. The present-day glueing method is commonly known as perfect binding. The equipment required for the sewing operation is quite expensive and that used for the glueing method is also so expensive that only the larger establishments can afiford such equipment.

Therefore the general object of my present invention, as also in the above-noted applications, is to make it possible to produce a book with the signatures glued together in such manner that the finished book will prove most satisfactory in both appearance and durability and yet can be produced at a reduced cost as compared with a sewed book, a present-day glued book, or a wire-stitched book or pamphlet.

The mor particular object of my present invention is to devise an improved machine for notching the folded edges of the signatures as a preliminary step in the making of a glued book.

More specifically, my present object is to devise a machine that is capable of performing the signature-notching operation at an increased rate of speed and that may accordingly be arranged in a succession of machines or embodied as an integrated part of a combined machine assembly for performing without interruption the several successive steps in the making of a glued book.

For instance, the operation of my present machine may be performed at a point between the usual operations of folding and gathering; and my present machine may be combined with either the folding machine or the bundling press or may be included as part of a combined machine in which may be included also suitable means for performing the folding and bundling operations as well as other steps in the making of a glued book. My notching machin may be attached to a rotary printing press which includes its own means for folding the signatures. Also, the operation of my present machine may be followed by the regular steps of rounding and backing, that is after glueing.

Another object of my invention is to notch a book signature in such manner that the rear of the notch in each instance will be inclined to the face of the signature, when in flat condition, so as to increase the holding area for the adhesive applied thereto and thereby strengthen the book. Accordingly, this particular form of notched signature and the method of making the same, constitute other objects of my present invention.

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. l is an elevation of one form of my invention with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a partial top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. l is a View corresponding to line 8--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4a is a detail view of an operating part;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but with the parts in another position;

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4 but illustrating another form of device in which the knives are inclined away from the folded edge of th book si nature;

Fig. 7 illustrates the staggered arrangement of the notched signatures in a further step of making a glued book;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating one style of finished book that may embody my invention;

Fig. 9 illustrates another style of book that may be made with my present invention;

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of a modified form of my present machine;

Fig. 11 is a view taken on line H-l i of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 11 but with the knives in notching position;

Fig. 14 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 15 is a detail view of the knife and pusher assembly;

Figs. 16 and 1'? illustrate the particular form of notch which may be formed with each of the several structures herein described and which has its rear or bottom fanned out, Fig. 16 being in section while Fig. 17 is in elevation.

It is to be understood that the present form of disclosure is merely for the purpose of illustration and that there might be devised various modifications thereof without departing from the spirit of my invention as herein set forth and claimed.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings,

one form of my present invention includes the cylindrical body I which has attached to the two ends thereof the heads 2 rotatably mounted in a suitable frame for operation through the gear train 3 or other means of drive connection from a motor. The cylindrical body I is provided with an opening 4 extending the entire length thereof, this opening having a main portion extending in a substantially radial direction with parallel straight sides 5, and an offset auxiliary portion with a curved surface 6. A die I is adapted to be received within the opening 4 and to be engaged against one of the straight sides 5. When in assembly, the outer edge of the die I will be substantially flush with the outer surface of the cylindrical body I, the individually adjustable die-supporting screws 8 in the bottom of the opening 4 serving to permit such positioning of the die I in an accurate manner. The adjustable screws 8 permit leveling as well as adjustment of the die I whenever necessary. The screws 9 in the ends of the cylindrical body I extend through the elongated openings or slots II) in the head members 2 so as to permit accurate positioning of the die I radially of the cylindrical body I and securing the same in such position by tightening engagement of the heads of the screws 9 with the head members 2.

The die I has formed therein a plurality of radially extending grooves II for the knives I2 which are adapted to have snug reciprocating engagement therewithin, as clearly indicated in Figs. 4 and of the present drawings. These knives are all of duplicate form and each of them has a recess or mouth [2a provided in its one edge and near the outer end thereof. The rear of the mouth I2a may be of different forms according to the angle at which the book signatures are fed thereinto, a curved form being here indicated. These recesses are aligned with each other and are adapted to receive the folded edge of a book signature S and to shear notches N therein to the proper depth for the purpose in tended by the present invention. Such a notched signature is indicated in a general way in Fig. I and more particularly in Figs. 16 and 1'! of the accompanying drawings; and reference may be had to the above-noted application Serial No. 787,322 for a fuller understanding of the method of finishing the glued book after the notching operation.

The notching operation is performed by the coordination of the three substantially transverse edges of the recess IZa with the corresponding cutting edges of the groove II in the die I, the middle edge I2b in each instance being slightly inclined so as to facilitate the initiation of the notching of the folded edge of the signature thereby.

The knives I2 are held in assembly by means of the steel presser bar I4 which has a groove extending longitudinally in the one face thereof for co-operative positioning engagement by the set screws Ia, provided in the cylindrical body I. The member M has a seat provided upon its opposite surface to receive a resilient flat rubber member I5; and a flat metal spring I6 is arranged between the rubber member I5 and the adjacent surfaces of the knives I2.

The means for reciprocating the knives I2 may comprise the rocker shaft II which is located within the offset part of the opening 4 in the cylindrical body I, the two ends of this shaft extending through the two heads 2 of the cylindrical body I. The left-hand end of the shaft .notching means.

II, as viewed in Fig. 1 of the present drawings, is suitably supported in the corresponding head 2; while the right-hand end of the shaft II, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, has a fiat projection Ila clamped between the clevis portions I8a of the rocker arm I8 which is thereby aflixed thereto, the other end of the arm I8 having a cam roller I9 for operative engagement in the cam race 20 provided in the box cam 2 I. The box cam 2i is fixedly mounted in the frame of the machine at one end of the cylindrical body, although it may be rotatably adjusted whenever necessary by means of the screws 2 la in suitable slots in the frame. The cam race 28 is of such contour that the movement of the roller I9 therein will cause the shaft II to have a back-and-forth rocking movement so as to perform the three-fold function of the knives I2, as will be explained.

It might be explained that the head 2 at the right-hand end of the machine, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 hereof, is provided with suitable openings to permit assembly of the shaft II with its projections lid and 22 so as to permit them to assume the operative arrangement herein described, and so as to permit removal of the parts from the opening 4 whenever desired.

The rocking shaft II has afiixed thereto multiple longitudinal projections 22 which, at their free edges, are adapted for engagement in the notches I 20 in the knives I2. These parts are so constructed and arranged that the rocking movement of the shaft I! will cause a reciprocating movement of the knives l2 along their slots II in the die I; and this reciprocating movement of the knives is of such extent that, at one extreme, the recesses In of the knives will be fully exposed beyond the outer surface of the die I and the cylindrical body I so as to receive the folded edge of a book signature S and, at its other extreme, the cutting edges of the knives I2 will be retracted fully within the cylindrical body I so as to ensure notching of the signature by effective engagement of the same between the shearing edges of the knives I2 and the cooperating edges of the grooves H in the die I; and the knives I2 may be fully retracted within the cylindrical body so as to facilitate the discharge of the notched signatures S therefrom, as will be more fully explained.

The signatures S may be folded and fed by the rotatable rollers 25, or previously folded signatures may be fed thereby between the upper and lower companion adjustable stationary guide or deflecting means 26 into proper position for engagement of the folded edge portion of each successive signature S within the recesses I2a of the knives i2. The lower end of each of these guide members 26 has fingers extending between the knives i2 and are cut away sufficiently to permit passage of the knives as they are carried by the cylindrical body I. The lower ends of these guide members 26 may be quite close to the cylindrical body I and will ensure proper positioning of the signatures S with respect to the knives S2. The space between the rollers 25 may be varied by means of suitable roller adjustment according to the thickness of the signatures, as for instance by the screws 25a for the shaft bearings. The rollers 25 may be rotated by means of suitable drive connection 27 from the same motive means which operates the cylindrical body I and the rate of speed of the signature-feeding means will be in accordance with that of the In fact, the feeding rollers 25 may be operated at a slightly greater speed than the cylindrical body I in order to ensure that each signature will have its folded edge inserted into the recesses I2a and against the rear wall thereof or against other stop means to the fullest extent. The signatures S will be fed in succession to the knives I2 and the operation of the knives will be synchronized with the feeding operation in such manner that each signature will be received by the fully open notching means and the signatures will then be progressively clamped and notched by the knives I2 as they close thereupon. At the same time, by virtue of the clamping engagement of each successive signature S, it will be carried with the rotating cylindrical body I from its point of introduction to the point of delivery upon performance of the notching operation. In the present illustration, this extent of travel for the signatures is shown to be approximately ninety (90) degrees. With this machine, the notching operation may be performed at a suitable rate of speed for co-ordination with the other preceding and succeeding steps which form part of the procedure in making a glued book, as above explained.

When the notching operation has been performed, the knives 52 will have continued their movement to a position entirely within the outer surface of the die I and the cylindrical body I so as to permit the notched signatures S to be delivered by the rotating roller or rollers 28 which may have drive connection with the same motive means that operates the feed rollers 25. The delivery roller or rollers 28 will be properly positioned with respect to the cylindrical body I so that the successive signatures S will be effectively engaged therebetween for delivery of the same; and accordingly this frictional engagement between the rotating cylindrical body I, the signature S and the delivery rollers might preclude the necessity of any power drive connection for these rollers. The delivery rollers 28 may be adjustable by suitable means towards and from the cylindrical body I so as to accommodate signatures of diflerent thicknesses, as for instance by the same arrangement as indicated for rollers 25 although in Fig. 2 the adjustable shaft bearings are held by screws 28a.

Whereas in the present case I have provided for the notching of only one signature per rotation of the cylindrical body, the number of notched signatures may be increased for each rotation of the cylindrical body I and the rate of speed of production may thus be increased accordingly. This may be done by decreasing the angle of rotation within which the notching operation is performed so as to return the knives I2 sooner to open position for repetition of the notching operation upon signatures which might be introduced at another point or points farther advanced about the circumference of the cylindrical body. Or, there may be provided duplicate sets of knives i2 at intervals about the cylindrical body i with suitable means for simultaneous operation of the same during rotation of the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body I may be made of any suitable diameter according to the number and arrangement of the sets of knives I2 and, likewise, there may be provided suitable signature-feeding and signature-delivery means which will be properly timed in their operations with respect to the notching operations.

I wish to emphasize the fact that several functions are performed by the knives by virtue of their structure, arrangement and manner of operation Within the die 1; that is, the rear walls of the recesses i211 may serve as a guide or stop means in determining the position of each successive signature within the recesses preparatory to the notching operation, the progressive closing movement of the outer end walls of the recesses 12a upon the edge of each signature serves to clamp and eifectively hold the same in proper position for the notching operation, and finally the transverse edges of the recess 52a, in each instance, co-operate with the companion edges of the die I to perform the notching operation.

If so desired, stop members is may be adjustably mounted upon the presser bar I 4 so as to be able to vary the depth of the notch to be cut in the book signatures of different character with respect to the paper employed. Or, one set of knives may be replaced by another set in which the recesses I2a are of a different depth from that of the first set so as to thereby change the depth of the notches to be formed in the edges of the signatures; and it is possible to replace only two of the knives, at suitable distance apart, for this purpose.

As explained in the above-noted applications, it is desirable to have the successive signatures of a book notched in such manner that their notches may be staggered, as illustrated in Fig. '7 of the present drawings; and this may be accomplished by introducing all of the odd-numbered signatures, as for instance Nos. 1, 3, 5, etc, of a given book into the notching machine in one position with respect to lengthwise extension and introducing all even-numbered signatures, as for instance Nos. 2, 4, 6, etc, in end-to-end reversed position within the notching machine. This is made possible by spacing the two end slots and knives suitably different distances from the ends of the die 5. Or, this same result may be accomplished by providing suitable longitudinal adjustment of the mechanism, including the cylindrical body and the cam means, within the frame; that is, with respect to the signaturefeeding means. In this arrangement, all oddnumbered signatures will be notched while theadjustable means is in one position and the evennumbered signatures will be notched while the mechanism occupies its other position.

When all of the odd-numbered and evennurnbered signatures or" a given book are assembled in book form after the notching operation, the notches of the successive signatures will be staggered, as illustrated in Fi '7 hereof; and, in the present case, it is contemplated that the notches and intermediate portions will be of the same extent so that, upon application of the glue thereto and completion of the book with the appropriate pressure applied thereto, there may be obtained an interlocking between the notches and opposite un--notched portions and correspondingly increased strength in the holding engagement between the assembled signatures.

In addition to the application of glue to the back edge of the book, it may be still further strengthened by applying a liner of coarse fabric over the glued notched back surface and then applying a familiar reinforcer strip of heavy paper in the manner more fully set forth in my copending application Serial No. 787,322, above noted. Then the book is ready for the rounding and backing operation and the application of either a stifi or flexible cover which may be applied in the usual manner.

. This invention may be embodied also in a flat aevaeor 1 7 form of book illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings and in a pamphlet consisting of only a few sig natures or only one signature. Also, this same invention may be employed for notching the edges of sheets in general, whether they be of folded or unfolded form.

Whereas in the form of machine above described the knives I2 extend radially of the rotatable body 5, I have shown in Fig. 6 a modification which includes the same parts as in the first form of device, as indicated by corresponding reference numerals, but in which the knives l2 are inclined with respect to the radius of the body I and away from the folded edge of the signature as it occupies notching position so as to increase the fanned out effect in the notched signature, as illustrated in Figs. 16 and 1? hereof and as will more fully appear from the follow- I will now describe a modification of the operating means shown in the first form of my machine (Figs. 1 to 5 hereof). Whereas the knifeengaging means for operating the same in the first form of machine is located inside the same rotatable body which carries the knives, the means for engaging the knives may be located outside of the body in which the knives are mounted, as will be now explained in connection with the following modified form of machine.

The cylindrical body 36 is rotatably mounted in a suitable machine frame and is driven by the chain 3| and shaft 52 from a motor. The body 38 has a radially arranged opening 32 the full length thereof to receive the knife assembly. This assembly includes the die 33 with rectangular slots 34 for snug reciprocating engagement of the knives 35 therewithin, each knife having a recess 36 in the one edge thereof and near the outer end thereof. As will be observed, the recess 36 of each knife faces towards the rear wall of its slot 34 so that there will be co-ordination between the three lateral shearing edges of the knife and the three shearing edges of the slot 34, as in the first form of machine above described. The cutting edges of the knives and slots in the die, in this form of machine, are the same in both form and operation as in the first machine above described.

The knives 35 may be held in operative engagement within the slots 34 by substantially l the same means as in the first form of machine, above described, this means here including the steel presser bar 37, the flat resilient rubber member 39 and the flat steel spring 48 which has engagement with the knives 35 themselves.

The die 33 is removably held in assembly by the screws M which extend through longitudinal slots in the die so as to permit longitudinal adjustment of the same. This die and knife assembly may be leveled and adjusted in the same manner as in the first form of machine above described. Adjoining the inner end of the opening 32 there is the narrowed opening 32a to accommodate the inner ends of the knives 35 and a flat metal strip 112 which affords a backing for the flanged inner ends of all of the knives 35; and bearing against the rear of the strip 42 are the flanged inner ends of the several pushers 43 which extend radially into the cylindrical body 30 from the diametrically opposite side thereof for a purpose to be explained. There may be any number of pushers 43, as for instance five (5) in the present illustration.

As a means for moving the knives 3-5 back and forth so as to perform the notching operation, I have here provided the freely rotatable hard-sur- 49 are pivotally connected to the yokes 5d, the,

arms of which extend above and below a horizontal rotatable shaft 52 which is driven from the machine motor; and the cams 53 on the shaft 52 are adapted for operative engagement with therollers 54 on the yokes 5! so as to cause rocking movement of the arms 49 about their pivotal axes 5i and thereby cause movement of the block 46 and the roller 45 towards the cylindrical body 36. The coil springs 55 serve to rock the arms 49 about their pivot points in the opposite direction. Thus there may be produced a back-andforth movement of the block 56, with its roller 45, towards and from the rotatable cylindrical body 38.

It may be noted that the top arms 48 have screw-threaded engagement with the slidable block 46 and hence are capable of adjustment for obtaining the proper position of the roller 45 with respect to the cylindrical body 36. Also, the earns '53 are each rotatably adjustable by means of the bolt and slot arrangement 5E.

The book signatures 8 may be fed one at a time into the machine through the rollers 51 in either folded or unfolded condition, as explained in connection with the first form of machine above, and thence passed between the plurality of sets of guide fingers 51a which are mounted upon the machine frame. The space between rollers 51 may be varied by suitable roller adjustment in accordance with the thickness of the signatures, as explained above in connection with rollers 25 also.

A signature will be fed into the machine in such manner that the folded edge thereof will be received in the upturned recesses 36 of the knives 35 which, at that stage of operation, will have their recessed ends projecting fully out from the cylindrical body 30 and in a direction approaching horizontal, ready to receive the signature and to be engaged immediately by the roller 45. The folded edge of each signature may be positioned against the rear walls of the recesses 38 as a stop means therefor, or there may be provided a plurality of stop members 58 mounted upon the presser bar 31 so as to be adjustable for permitting the folded edge of the signature to extend into the recesses 33 to a greater or less depth according to the particular character of signatures being notched in any given case, as above explained. Here also each recess 36 may be considered as a mouth.

The feeding rollers 51 may be operated at aslightly greater rate of speed than the cylindrical body 39 so as to ensure full engagement of the book signature within the recesses 36, as

explained above.

The parts of this machine are so constructed and arranged and are so synchronized in their operations that the roller 45 will be moved to-' wards the cylindrical body 38 in time to engage the rounded ends of the knives 35 and move them vlengthwise so as to effect the clamping engagement of the signature in position and. then the 9 shearing action between the companion cutting edges of the knife recesses 36 and the die slots 34. The moment of the initial engagement of the roller 45 with the knives may be slightly prior to the arrival of the knives into horizontal position, in order to ensure complete performance of the notching operation before the knives pass out of engagement with the roller 45. Such engagement of the roller t will move the knife ends to position completely flush with the outer surface of the cylindrical body 30 so as to ensure release of the signature upon the completion of the notching operation. The roller 45 will recede from the cylindrical body 363 and the notched signature S will fall by gravity into a suitable receptacle below.

The knives 35 will be held by friction in the positions to whichmoved by the roller G5; and as the cylindrical body 30 continues its rotation, the projecting pushers lS will be carried to position for engagement by the roller 45 which will at the same time be moved again towards the cylindrical body 36 so as to engage the ends of the pushers 43 and force them to position entirely flush with the outer surface of the body 36. This action serves to force the knife ends outwardly so that their shearing recesses 3'5 will again be ready to receive the next signature as the knives again move into horizontal position, as above explained; and this series of movements will continue to be repeated. Thus the roller 45 will have alternating engagement with the recessed ends of the knives and the ends of the pushers 43 so as to intermittently effect the positioning of the knives for notching and the performance of the notching operation, the knives and pushers being held by friction in the positions to which moved by the roller 45.

In this form of machine, as in the structure above described, the recessed knives may be instrumental in performing several functions, namely the proper positioning of the signatures within the knife recesses, the clamping of the signatures in such position, and the ultimate notching of the same. If so desired, the adjustable stop members 58 may be mounted in the same manner as the corresponding members IS in the first form of machine above described or in any other suitable manner. If the members 58 be included, roller $15 will be provided with grooves 45a of suitable depth to accommodate the same.

It should be noted that, as the roller 35 repeatedly engages the ends of the knives 35 and the ends of the pushers 43, the revolving movement of the knives and pushers will cause rotation of the freely mounted roller 45 with the result that there will not be any appreciable wear upon the surface of the roller 45.

It may be observed also that in each of the above-described machines each signature will occupy a slightly curved form about the curved surface of the cylindrical body during the notching operation and that, as a result, the bottom or rear of the notch N in each instance will be inclined slightly with respect to the side surfaces of the signature, or fanned out, when placed in flat condition for the further steps in the making of a glued book. That is to say, while the shearing action of the knives IE or 35 along a radial path will produce a straight sheared edge upon the signature while it maintains curved position about the cylindrical body I or 30, the sheared edge at the rear of the notch will assume inclined or fanned out condition 10 when the signature is returned to flat condition, as illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17 hereof. This explanation appeals to me as a plausible theory of this phenomenon which, however, may be open to other theories and I do not intend to be committed necessarily to one theory to the exclusion of another possibly more plausible theory. The fact is that this result is obtained under the conditions herein described.

As a result of the phenomenon just described, not only are the edges of the individual leaves of a signature exposed in the notches N for the application of glue thereto, but there will be exposed also a certain extent of the side surface of each leaf immediately adjacent the edge thereof; and this means a greater area for the glue and correspondingly greater strength in the finished book. This condition may be amplified by means of the modification illustrated in Fig. 6, as above explained.

My present invention makes it possible to pro vide notches of substantial and uniform depth in the folded edges of the signatures and also to perform this operation in a positive and dependable manner and at a rate of speed that will permit such a machine to be combined in sequence with the various means for performing other steps in the making of a glued book. This relatively high speed of production is due to the fact that the notching means is embodied in a continuously rotating body upon which the succession of signatures are received and supported during the notching operation; and thus the notching operation is performed upon a continuous succession of signatures without any interruption of such continuous succession or movement of the same. My rotary form of machine lends itself not only to increased rate of production but is capable of practically limitless capacity by virtue of its form and manner of operation.

My present invention is comparatively simple and compact, as for instance the knives which may perform the several functions of positioning the signatures, clamping the same and performing the notching operation.

Another advantage consists in the fact that the notching unit itself may be readily removed at any time desired and may be accurately reassembled with the same ease.

As in my other machines, embodied in the above-noted applications, so here also there is realized a substantial saving in paper as compared with the old method known in the industry as perfect binding in which there is a comparatively great waste.

The application of the glue to the signatures with notches of substantial depth and with their staggered and interlocking relation, will serve to substantially increase the strength of the book, as will also be the inclined or fanned out bottoms of the notches N. Here also, as in my copending applications above referred to, there may be added the usual end sheets and inserts without the necessity of tipping which is usually required in books with sewed signatures; and also my present method permits any kind of insert to be added with the same convenience and eificiency, for instance a single spread or a double spread, and the insert may be placed between adjacent signatures or within any one signature. In any event, the end sheet and insert will be effectively secured by the adhesive which is available through the notches and without having to notch the end-sheet or insert.

The finished book, made according to my present method, will have an appearance equally attractive as a sewed book and, in some respects, will be superior to a sewed book which of course is more expensive to make. lhus my present invention makes it possible for practically any and all book-binding establishments to produce a book possessing most satisfactory qualities from the standpoints of service and appearance and at a substantially reduced cost. With my present invention it is possible to produce a book of such good and dependable quality, as just mentioned, without having to resort to either of the more expensive methods of sewing and Wirestitching. As is well known, stitching with side wires interferes with and practically prevents opening of the book into flat condition; while stitching with saddle wire is not at all dependable as the leaves come loose.

Other practical advantages of my present invention will no doubt readily suggest themselves to those who are familiar with the art to which this invention relates.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a substantially cylindrical body, means for continuously rotating said body, means for feeding book signatures one after another to the outer surface of said body, inwardly operatable means upon said body and recessed upon the signature-receiving side thereof so as to provide notching edges and to be engageable by the folded edge of each signature in turn for positioning, clamping and notching the same in the folded edge thereof, and means for operating said last-named means.

2. In a device of the class described, a body having a surface adapted to receive a sheet or sheets, means for feeding a plurality of separate sheets in succession to and from notching position upon said surface, a plurality of aligned knives with shearing recesses therein for receiving, clamping and notching the sheet or sheets in the edge thereof, said knives being movable inwardly as a unit in a direction towards said surface and beyond the sheet for the notching operation and to release the notched sheet, and

means for operating said assembly of knives.

3. In a device of the class described, a movable body adapted to receive and convey a sheet or sheets upon the outer surface thereof, unitary means provided upon said body and movable in a direction transversely inwardly of said surface and recessed upon the sheet-receiving side thereof so as to provide cutting edges for clamping and notching the sheet or sheets, means actuated by the movement of said body for effecting opera- H tion of said unitary means, and means for operating said body.

4. In a device of the class described, rotatable means for receiving and conveying a sheet or sheets upon the outer surface thereof, means movable inwardly upon said rotatable means and recessed upon the sheet-receiving side thereof so as to provide cutting edges for notching the sheet or sheets, means for operating said rotatable means, and means actuated by the operation of said rotatable means for operating said notching means.

5. In a device of the class described, a rotatable cylindrical body having a longitudinal opening therein, a plurality of reciprocatable knives extending transversely within said opening and adapted to project therebeyond, the outer end portion of each of said knives being formed with a mouth within the shearing edge thereof so as to be adapted to receive the edge O a heet or iii) sheets and to afford shearing engagement of the knife edges therewith, means located within said opening and actuated by operation of said rotatable body and having operative engagement with said knives for effecting reciprocation thereof into and out of said opening so as to effect the shearing action of the same, and means for rotating said cylindrical body.

6. In a device of the class described, a rotatable cylindrical body having a longitudinal opening therein, a shearing die located within said opening and being provided with a plurality of separate parallel grooves extending in a direction transversely of said body, a plurality of shearing knives mounted for reciprocatable movement within said grooves so as to have their outer end portions moved into and out of said body, each of said knives having its outer end portion formed with a mouth in the shearing side thereof and a shearing edge adjacent said mouth so as to be adapted to receive the edge of the sheet or sheets and to afford shearing engagement of the same between the knife edges and the shearing edges of said die, means located within said opening and actuated by the operation of said rotatable body and having operative engagement with said knives for effecting reciprocation of said knives into and out of said opening so as to effect the notching of the sheet or sheets, and means for rotating said body.

7. In a device of the class described, a rotatable cylindrical body having a longitudinal opening therein, a shearing die removably located within said opening and being provided with a plurality of separate parallel grooves extending in a direction transversely of said body, a plurality of shearing knives mounted for reciprocatable movement within said grooves so as to have their outer end portions movable into and out of said cylindrical body, each of said knives having its outer end portion formed with a mouth therein and a shearing edge adjacent said mouth so as to be adapted to receive the edge of the sheet or sheets and to afford shearing engagement of the same between the knife edges and the shearing edges of the die, rockably mounted means within said opening for reciprocation of said knives, cam means actuated by the operation of said rotatable body for effecting operation of said rockably mounted means so as to move said knives into and out of said opening and to thereby effect the notching of the sheet or sheets, and means for rotating said cylindrical body.

8. In a device of the class described, a rotatable cylindrical body having a longitudinal opening therein, a shearing die removably located within said opening and being provided with a. plurality of separate parallel grooves extending in a direction transversely of said cylindrical body, a plurality of shearing knives mounted for reciprocatable movement within said grooves so as to have their outer end portions movable into and out of said cylindrical body, each of said knives having its outer end portion formed with a mouth in the shearing side thereof and a transverse three-sided shearing edge adjacent said mouth so as to be adapted to receive the edge of the sheet or sheets and to afford shearing engagement of the same between the knife edges and the shearing edges of the die, the depth of said mouth corresponding to the depth of the notch desired to be formed in the edge of the sheet or sheets, whereby the rear side of said mouth may serve as a stop means for determining the proper position of the sheet or sheets for the notching operation, the radial extent of said mouth being greater than the thickness of the sheet or sheets so as to serve as a means of preliminarily clamping the edge of the same in proper shearing position between the shearing portion of said mouth and said shearing die, means actuated by the operation of said rotatable body for effecting reciprocation of said knivesinto and out of said opening so as to thereby effect the notching of the sheet or sheets, and means for rotating said cylindrical body.

9. In a device of the class described, a body having a surface to receive a sheet or sheets, unitary means provided with clamping and shearing portions movable inwardly across said surface in a direction substantially normal thereto for clamping and notching the sheet or sheets, and means for operating said unitary means, said last-named means including means adapted for end-wise engagement with said inwardly movable means for effecting the clamping and notching of the sheet or sheets.

10. In a device of the class described, a rotatable body for receiving and conveying a sheet or sheets upon the outer surface thereof, means extending diametrically through said rotatable body for notching the sheet or sheets, a freely rotatable body adapted for straight-line movement for engagement alternately with the two ends of said reciprocatable means for effecting operation thereof, and means for operating said rotatable body carrying said notching means and for effecting movement of said freely rotatable body in proper synchronism.

11. In a device of the class described, rotatable means for receiving and conveying a sheet or sheets upon the outer surface thereof, means reciprocatable through said rotatable means for notching the sheet or sheets, and means movable alternately into engagement with the two ends of said reciprocatable means for operating the same, and means for operating said rotatable means and said movable means.

12. In a device of the class described, rotatable means for receiving and conveying a sheet or sheets upon the outer surface thereof, means movable inwardly through said rotatable means for notching the sheet or sheets, and means for alternately moving said notching means outwardly to operative position and inwardly within said rotatable means to inoperative position, and means for operating said rotatable means and said last-named means.

13. In a device of the class described, a body having a surface adapted to receive a sheet or sheets, unitary means provided with clamping and shearing means reciprocatable in a direction transversely of said surface for clamping and notching the sheet or sheets, adjustable means for determining the position of the sheet or sheets with respect to said unitary means so as to thereby determine the depth of the notch to be formed therein, and means for operating said unitary means.

14. In the art of making books, the method of notching a book signature including the step of effecting movement of a notching means along a path that is substantially radial to the folded edge portion of the book signature while occupying position in a curved form about the longitudinal axis thereof, so as to thereby produce a notch with its rear wall inclined to the main surface of the book signature when returned to flat condition.

15. In the art of making books, the method of notching a book signature including the step of I4 effecting movement of a notching means along a path transversely of the folded edge of the book signature and inclined away from the same while occupying notching position in a curved form about the longitudinal axis thereof so as to thereby produce a notch with its rear wall inclined to the main surface of the book signature when returned to flat condition.

16. In a device of the class described, a body having a surface adapted to receive sheet material, means for feeding a plurality of separate sheets in succession in the same direction to and beyond operative position upon said surface, unitary means provided with clamping and shearing means movable inwardly towards and transversely of said sheets, when in operative position, for clamping and notching the same and movable out of the path thereof to permit progressive movement of the same beyond such operative position, and means for operating said feeding means and notching means in predetermined sequence.

17. In a device of the class described, a movable body having an outer surface adapted to receive and to convey sheet material, means for feeding a plurality of separate sheets in succession to operative position upon said outer surface, means provided with clamping and shearing means movable inwardly towards said outer surface for clamping and notching the sheets, when in operative position, and means for operating said movable body, said sheet-feeding means and said clamping and notching means in predeter mined sequence.

18. In a device of the class described, a rotatable body having a.

substantially cylindrical outer surface adapted to receive and to convey sheet material, means for feeding a plurality of separate sheets in succession to operative position upon said outer surface, means provided with clamping and shearing means movable inwardly towards said outer surface for clamping and notching the edge of a sheet, when in operative position, and means for operating said rotatable body, said sheet-feeding means and said clamping' and notching means in predetermined sequence.

19. In a device of the class described, a rotatable body having an outer cylindrical surface with an opening therein. sheet-notching means movable transversely inwardly towards said surface and into said opening, the end portion of said notching means being mouth, with notching edges, adapted to receive the edge of a sheet and to permit notching engagement of the notching edges therewith means actuated by operation of said rotatable body and having operative engagement with said notching means for effecting movement thereof into and out of said opening so as to effect the notching action of the same, and means for rotatmg said rotatable body.

2i). A sheet notching device comprising a body a die element in a surface of said body, a co-oper: atmg notching element disposed inwardly of said surface and slidably mounted on said body said notching element having an end portion thereof 21. A sheet notching device comprising a body, a die element in'a surface of said body, a cooperating notching element disposed inwardly of said surface and slidably mounted on said body, said notching element having a free end portion thereof projecting outwardly beyond said die element and formed with a recess therein adapted to receive an edge portion of a sheet and providing a notching edge facing said die element, said notching element being movable inwardly relative to said body an extent to bring said notching edge into cutting relation with said die element for the notching operation and to dispose said end portion out of the plane of the notched sheet, and means operatively engaged with said notching element for operating the same.

22. A sheet notching device comprising a movable body adapted to impart movement to a sheet, a die element in a surface of said body contacted by said sheet, a co-operating notching element disposed inwardly of said surface and slidably mounted on said body, said notching element having an end portion thereof projecting outwardly beyond said die element and formed with a recess therein adapted to receive an edge portion of said sheet and providing a notching edge facing said die element, said notching element being movable inwardly relative to said body to bring said notching edge into cutting relation with said die element for the notching operation, means for imparting movement to said body, and means actuated by the movement of said body for operating said notching element.

23. A sheet notching device comprising a movable body adapted to impart movement to a sheet, a die element in a surface of said body contacted by said sheet, a co-operating notching element disposed inwardly of said surface and slidably mounted on said body, said notching element having a free end portion thereof projecting outwardly beyond said die element and formed with a recess therein adapted to receive an edge portion of said sheet and providing a notching edge facing said die element, said notching element being movable inwardly relative to said body an extent to bring said notching edge into cutting relation with said die element for the notching operation and to wholly dispose said end portion inwardl of the notched sheet to release the latter, means for imparting movement to said body, and means actuated by the movement of said body for operating said notching element.

24 In a device of the class described, a movable body for receiving and imparting movement to a sheet, a die element carried by and movable with said body, a movable punch element carried by and movable with said body and being movable towards said die element and alone constituting with said die element a means for producing a notch in an edge of the sheet during movement of the latter with said body. means for imparting movement to said body, and means actuated by the movement of said body for moving said punch element towards said sheet and said die element into cutting relation therewith.

25. A notching device comprising a body having a curved surface adapted to receive a book signature, a die element in said surface, a cooperating nctching element disposed inwardly of said surface and slidably mounted on said body, said notching element having an end portion thereof projecting outwardly beyond said die element and formed with a recess therein adapted to receive the folded edge of said signature and providing a notching edge facing said die element, said notching element being movable inwardly relative to said body to bring said notching edge into cutting relation to said die element for the notching operation, said die element and said notching element being arranged to effect said notching operation at an angle inclined with respect to the folded edge of said signature so as to produce a notch in said folded edge having an inclined rear wall, and means for operating said notching element.

26. In the art of making books, the method of notching a book signature including the step of effecting movement of a notching means across the folded edge portion of said signature while the latter is in a curved condition, so as to thereby produce a notch in said folded edge and effect a relative displacement shingle fashion of the edges of the signature leaves defining the rear wall of said notch when the signature is returned to fiat condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 395,408 Sullivan Jan. 1, 1889 728,532 Arnold May 19, 1903 732,185 Hayward June 30, 1903 735,259 Hughes Aug. 4, 1903 745,965 Lyon Dec. 1, 1903 848,680 Nelson Apr. 2, 1907 920,131 Graham May 4, 1909 1,321,161 Thomas Nov. 11, 1919 1,858,685 Semon May 17, 1932 1,910,395 Krees May 23, 1933 2,343,119 Zaslawsky Feb. 29, 1944 2,436,192 Braun Feb. 17, 1948 2,452,402 Stringe Oct. 26, 1948 

